Shows
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional596. Bart Sayer, Looking Beyond the Mirror: The Business and Science of Beauty.Show Notes: In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman interviews Bart Sayer, an expert on the beauty industry. Bart worked for nine years at the Estée Lauder Companies, most recently as the International General Manager for one of its largest brands, Clinique, managing the $1B P&L. Previously, Bart was a partner at Booz & Company (now Strategy&, part of PwC), focused on strategy and commercial transformation in the Consumer & Retail sectors. The conversation focuses on understanding the structure of the beauty market and the main drivers of value creation. The Beauty Industry Ex...
2025-01-2034 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional582. Strategy Mavericks: Disrupting Traditional Approaches to Business StrategyShow Notes: In this panel discussion, Lisa Carlin, director of Future Builders and author of the newsletter Turbocharge Weekly, and strategy execution specialist introduces the three panelists, who discuss the challenges of traditional strategy development, including volatility, uncertain business environments, and significant digital and AI disruption. The panelists, Will Bachman, Founder of Umbrex, a global community of independent management consultants, Alex M.H. Smith, breakthrough strategist and author of No Bullshit Strategy, and Rob McLean, investor, philanthropist and co-author of two books on strategy, discuss the challenges of traditional approaches to business strategy. The Problem of Bu...
2024-08-0554 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional567. Henry Oliver, Author of Second Act, on The Secrets of Late BloomersShow Notes: In this discussion, Will Bachman interviews Henry Oliver, author of the forthcoming book Second Act about late bloomers. Oliver has a background in English literature and marketing. He worked for an MP and later in employment marketing. Defining a Late Bloomer Henry’s interest in late bloomers came from his work in employment marketing, and during his research, he found a wealth of talent in an older demographic. During the course of his research, he found that cognitive ability is the number one predictor of job performance regardless of age. A late...
2024-04-0150 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional565. Ivan Oransky, Co-founder of Retraction WatchShow Notes: In this conversation with Will Bachman, Ivan Oransky, a co-founder of Retraction Watch, shares his experience as a medical journalist and with Retraction Watch. Ivan explains that his friend and co-founder, Adam Marcus had uncovered a massive story about scientific fraud in Western Massachusetts, where an anesthesiologist had made up all clinical data. Adam, who was managing editor of an publication called Anesthesiology News got the scoop on the story, and Ivan, who was impressed with the story, suggested they start a blog about retraction notices, it turned out there were far more happening than...
2024-03-1820 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional550. Jared Simmons, Design to ValueShow Notes: In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman talks to Jared Simmons, business consultant, coach, and speaker, on design to value. Jared defines the term ‘design to value’, offers examples of how it can be used, and talks about the various steps involved. Using the example of a design to value playbook, Jared talks through each essential step that should be included. Step one is defining value and creating a shared understanding of it. This involves getting everyone on the same page about the intended purpose. Understanding value involves both the company runni...
2024-01-2935 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional548. Adam Braff, Business Analytics DiagnosticShow Notes: The Umbrex Business Analytics Diagnostic Guide that is discussed in this episode can be downloaded at no cost here: https://umbrex.com/resources/business-analytics-diagnostic/ In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman and Adam Braff discuss the creation of a data analytics diagnostic guide. Adam, a former partner at McKinsey and a consultant on data analytics, discusses the importance of data analytics in solving business problems in any company or investment firm. He explains that a business analytics diagnostic is designed for organizations with multiple people, computers, and analytics processes. The goal of this...
2024-01-2245 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional546. Tiago Forte Author of Building a Second BrainIn this session, Will Bachman and Tiago Forte discuss Tiago’s new book Building a Second Brain. They discuss how the concept provides value and work through each key learning aspect, the importance of using note-taking apps, including CODE and Para. Tiago talks about the background that led to the creation of the book and how it was strongly shaped by his experience in consulting. Tiago shares his background as a junior project analyst at a boutique consulting firm called FaberNovel, where he learned the business model of consulting. Consultants are rapid learners, learning new things about the...
2023-12-2554 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent ProfessionalEpisode 543. Jill Stoddard, Author of Imposter No MoreIn this interview, author Jill Stoddard and Will Bachman discuss the concept of impostor syndrome. Jill defines the experience as a state where individuals question their competence and legitimacy, even when there is objective evidence to support their accomplishments. The fear is that they will of be outed as a fraud. The phenomenon was officially identified in 1978 by Pauline Clance and Suzanne IMEs, who believed it only existed in high-achieving women. However, culture rebranded it as a syndrome which Jill addresses. The Background on Imposter Syndrome Jill believes that the imposter phenomenon has been around f...
2023-11-2739 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional541. Scott Ratliff, Commercial Leadership Roles in Professional Services FirmsIn this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman talks to Scott Ratliff, who is a principal at the search firm Beecher Reagan. Beecher Reagan is a specialty retained executive search firm that works across three industries: professional services, digital and technology services, and private equity. As a principal at Beecher Reagan, Scott leads the commercial excellence sales and marketing practice, focusing on growth roles across these industries. Scott talks about commercial leaders within professional services, specifically in three forms: true Hunter BD people, who are responsible for going out into the market, setting meetings, driving revenue, and bringing in new l...
2023-11-1341 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional540. Ammad Ahmad, How Expert Networks Can Add Value to Primary ResearchShow Notes: Will Bachman talks to Ammad Ahmad, founder and managing director of Atheneum, a top global expert network that works with management consulting firms and provides access to niche industry experts, and offers research as a service (RaaS). These experts have spent 20-25 years in a particular function or industry and can provide tacit knowledge and insights from industries. They help clients understand challenges when implementing AI-related solutions in healthcare, due diligence cases, or when a PE firm is looking to make an investment. Atheneum has about 11 offices across the wo...
2023-11-0627 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional539. Nancy MacKay, Founder of MacKay CEO ForumsShow Notes: In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman interviews Nancy Mackay, founder of MacKay CEO Forums (MC ACO), a peer advisory group that provides confidential peer support groups for CEOs and business owners across Canada. The group aims to populate the world with inspiring leaders by offering confidential peer support groups to hundreds of members. Nancy states that, in today’s challenging fast-paced business-world, and with a growing mental-health crisis, leaders need more peer support and trusted advisors. The Mackay community includes over 1200 CEOs, executives, and business owners from various industries across Canada, participating in over 114 pe...
2023-10-3035 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional538. Pam Fox Rollin, Growing Groups Into TeamsIn this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman and Pam Fox Rollin, author of Growing Groups into Teams, discuss the concept of a team and its benefits. Pam opens the conversation by defining what a team is. She emphasizes the importance of a shared promise and a commitment to coordinate to fulfill that promise. A team is not just a group of people who report to the same people but are a group of people who are committed to accomplishing a shared goal for their customers, whether internal or external. Pam also discusses the challenges faced by executive teams, where t...
2023-10-2332 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional537. David A. Fields, How to Work Effectively with Visibility PartnersIn this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman interviews David A. Fields on how to work with industry associations and other types of groups to build businesses and create value. He touches on the concept of trade associations, and how we should view the trade association as a source of prospects. It's important to consider other types of associations that have a large group of prospects in their tribe, such as software platforms, data providers, headhunters, and journalists. Data providers often need the help of consulting firms to ensure their data remains relevant and useful. For example, data providers can...
2023-10-1635 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional533. Richard Langlois, Author of The Corporation and the Twentieth CenturyRichard Langlois, author of the book The Corporation and the 20th Century: The History of American Business Enterprise, and Will Bachman discuss the transition from entrepreneur-led businesses to modern multi-unit businesses. Richard talks about the drivers behind this transformation, including antitrust, which led to unintended consequences such as making coordination between firms illegal, and the shift from vertically integrated businesses to modular corporations. His book highlights the impact of the depression, which eliminated many financial institutions, making it possible for internal capital markets to function and fund innovation. His book also explores the issue of price controls and government int...
2023-09-1852 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional531. Huijin Kong, Author of Positive Influence, The First and Last Step of LeadershipIn this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman and Huijin Kong discuss her new book, Positive Influence, The First and Last Mile of Leadership, co-authored with Tsun-yan Hsieh. They talk about the basics of influence and how to present different influencing techniques. Huijin’s book emphasizes the importance of focusing on both task outcomes and relational outcomes, as well as the impact of one's own heart and soul on others. Huijin emphasizes that people are influenced more by how they feel about the task and their purpose in influencing others. She explains that traditional consulting can be more pow...
2023-09-0432 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional533. Richard Langlois, Author of The Corporation and the Twentieth CenturyRichard Langlois, author of the book The Corporation and the 20th Century: The History of American Business Enterprise, and Will Bachman discuss the transition from entrepreneur-led businesses to modern multi-unit businesses. Richard talks about the drivers behind this transformation, including antitrust, which led to unintended consequences such as making coordination between firms illegal, and the shift from vertically integrated businesses to modular corporations. His book highlights the impact of the depression, which eliminated many financial institutions, making it possible for internal capital markets to function and fund innovation. His book also explores the issue of price controls and government int...
2023-09-0252 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional528. Brian Ortiz, Building a LinkedIn AudienceShow Notes: Brian Ortiz talks to Will Bachman about their use of various tools and CRM systems to manage their LinkedIn presence which has 70,000 followers. Brian talks about his history in marketing, his move into real estate investing, his purpose on LinkedIn, and the CRM tools he uses. Brian explains how he manages the actual inflow of messages, especially when dealing with heavy volume. He talks about an interesting system where he can reply quickly by using specific keywords or dates in their replies, and how he uses LinkedIn’s data system which allows them to...
2023-08-1442 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional527. Justin Nassiri Shares Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn PostsShow Notes: LinkedIn has become a powerful platform for professionals to connect, share insights, and build their personal brand. But how can executives effectively leverage LinkedIn to maximize their content strategy? To answer this question, Will Bachman talks to Justin Nassiri, founder of Executive Presence, who conducted a comprehensive analysis of client posts on LinkedIn. Justin talks about software his company uses for data analytics to see valuable data on engagement and trends and how to use it. The Power of the Hook One of the most significant insights from Justin’s analysis is...
2023-08-0750 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional526. Alex Boyd, Organic LinkedIn Growth for B2BShow Notes: Will Bachman welcomes Alex Boyd, the founder of Revenue Zen, a B2B organic growth marketing firm. Alex talks about organic growth marketing and how it is simply sharing knowledge about a product or service through platforms like websites, forums, and social media without relying on paid advertising. Alex's strategy works because clients are drawn to the content and reach out to him. He is now helping other B2B companies achieve success through organic growth marketing. Developing Organic Content for B2B Markets Alex Boyd works with B2B clients...
2023-08-0147 minUnleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional526. Alex Boyd on Organic LinkedIn Growth for B2BWill Bachman welcomes Alex Boyd, the founder of Revenue Zen, a B2B organic growth marketing firm. Alex talks about organic growth marketing and how it is simply sharing knowledge about a product or service through platforms like websites, forums, and social media without relying on paid advertising. Alex's strategy works because clients are drawn to the content and reach out to him. He is now helping other B2B companies achieve success through organic growth marketing. Developing Engaging B2B Content Alex Boyd works with B2B clients who typically have an average order v...
2023-07-3147 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional525. Chris Heivly, Author of Build the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field GuideShow Notes: Chris Heivly and Will Bachman discuss the concept of startup communities and the importance of building them. Chris is the co-founder of MapQuest, which was sold to AOL for $1.2 billion, and the author of the Build the Fort. His second book, The Startup Community Builder's Field Guide, focuses on how five simple lessons learned as a 10-year-old can set entrepreneurs up for startup success. Chris defines a startup community as a set of people involved in innovative activities in a particular geography. He explains that startup communities can be incredibly powerful in helping entrepreneurs to...
2023-07-2446 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent ProfessionalEpisode 524. Adam Braff, ChatGPT Code InterpreterShow Notes: In this episode, Will Bachman talks to Adam Braff, a former McKinsey partner who specializes in data analytics. Adam has been using chat GPT to explore how this powerful tool can be harnessed for data analysis. He explores the implications and potential impact of this innovative approach. The Quest for Analyzing Quantitative Data The ability to analyze quantitative data using generative AI has long been a holy grail for many data scientists. While Chat GPT and other language models have proven their prowess in generating text and even creating visual content...
2023-07-1744 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional521. John Horn, Author of Inside the Competitor's MindsetShow Notes: Will Bachman and John Horn talk about competitors and how they should be taken into account when formulating a strategy. John points out that lowering the price is an easy response to a new product or market entry, which can prevent success. He suggests that understanding the competitor's mindset is a key element to predicting their next move and positioning oneself for success. He also emphasizes the importance of being aware of the competitors' strategies, as it can influence the success of any new idea or product. A Framework to Understand the Competitor’s...
2023-06-2635 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional519. Ashlee Horn, Training New Sales LeadersShow Notes: Will Bachman and Ashlee Horn spoke about her practice, which focuses on coaching new sales leaders. Ashlee outlines the problem she is trying to solve that 50% of new sales leaders fail within the first year. She speaks about the lifecycle of a sales manager and why sales leaders are so important to an organization. She explains that she focuses on those who are new to frontline sales management or director roles. She works with star performers who have made the leap into leadership, and star managers who are now trying to manage teams of teams. A...
2023-06-1245 min
The 92 Report60. Shannon (Willey) Winakur, Cardiologist and Ice Hockey PlayerShow Notes: Shannon Winakur and Will Bachman discuss Shannon's journey since graduating from Harvard. Shannon came to Harvard with the intention of going into politics and running for office in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Pursuing a Career in Medicine Shannon talks about her experience in politics when working for Doug Wilder influenced her decision to pursue medicine. She decided that medicine would be a better way to help people, thus, she decided to attend medical school, unfortunately, the decision to enter medical school was easier than the process; Shannon shares the many...
2023-06-1246 min
The 92 Report59. Elaine Lum MacDonald, Connecting Social Entrepreneurs with Purpose-Driven LeadersShow Notes: Elaine Lum MacDonald and Will Bachman have a conversation about Elaine's journey since graduating from Harvard in 1992. Elaine started off her career in management consulting at the Monitor Company in Cambridge. After gaining experience in the field, after that she moved to Asia. She was based in Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and China for four years, gaining meaningful and memorable experiences. After this, she went to Harvard Business School and graduated in 1998. She spent a decade working for Clorox running million-dollar company's and leading marketing for a division, she went on to launch her...
2023-06-0538 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional516. John Driscoll, President U.S. Healthcare at Walgreens and Host of CareTalkShow Notes: John Driscoll is the President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and the co-host of the second largest healthcare podcast on YouTube, CareTalk. In this episode, host Will Bachman welcomed John to the show. John has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, having played a leading role in creating successful companies like MedCo, Surescripts, Oxford Health Plans, and Care Centrix. John discusses topics such as monkeypox, mask mandates, baby formula shortages, Silicon Valley Bank's failure, and healthcare related topics. He also shares his opinions on a variety of healthcare issues. The Future of Pharmacies ...
2023-05-2240 min
The 92 Report55. Rachel Pardes Berger, Child Abuse Pediatrician and Professor of PediatricsShow Notes: Rachel Berger and Will Bachman talk about Rachel's journey since graduating from Harvard. Rachel graduated with a degree in biochemistry and moved to New York City to attend Columbia medical school. She moved to Pittsburgh for her residency and ended up staying for 27 years. After completing her residency, she did a fellowship in general academic pediatrics in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Rachel took a job at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in a new division for child advocacy as a child abuse pediatrician. She eventually became board certified in the field when it became a sub...
2023-05-0855 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent ProfessionalEp. 511. David Newman, Author of Do It! SellingShow Notes: David Newman is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), marketing expert, speaker, and founder of Do It! Marketing. In this episode, Will Bachman and David discuss his new book, Do It Selling. The book is organized with 77 instant action ideas that can be used to land better clients, bigger deals, and higher fees. The book is divided into micro chapters which focus on topics such as understanding the sales process, creating an ideal customer profile, building relationships with potential clients, using content to create credibility, and closing more sales. Additionally, the book includes many stories, case s...
2023-04-2446 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional509. Ulrich Riedel, Cold Lead GenerationUlrich Riedel and Will Bachman discuss Ulrich's unique cold lead generation process via LinkedIn. Ulrich advises to respect the leads and to be careful to select only candidates who would benefit from this process and to be careful not to spam. He shares why he chose to find leads this way and explains why there is more upside than downside to his process. He explains that the process involves several aspects such as researching the prospects, creating a message, and following up. He also suggests focusing on building relationships and emphasizing the value of the offer. Finally, he stresses t...
2023-04-1033 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional508. Ulrich Riedel, Value-based PricingShow Notes Ulrich Riedel and Will Bachman discuss Ulrich's unique pricing model for independent consultants. Rather than being paid upfront or daily rates, Ulrich gets paid a percentage of the value he creates for the client at the end of the project. To make this type of pricing model possible, Ulrich needs to make sure certain conditions are met, such as creating value for the client, measuring the value, and convincing the client of the value. He also needs to make sure that the client will be willing or able to share in the risk associated with t...
2023-04-0315 min
The 92 Report53. Tara Altebrando, YA Author and Writer of Scripted Audio DramasShow Notes Tara Altebrando is a scripted audio creator and author who was part of the Harvard and Radcliffe class of 1992. She spoke to Will Bachman about her journey since graduation. As a senior, she had been the arts editor of The Independent and had interviewed various artists passing through Boston. She met the editor of a magazine based in Dublin at a New Music Seminar in New York and expressed her interest in working for him. After this conversation, Tara went to Dublin and was given an internship at a magazine called Hot Press. She also...
2023-03-2745 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional507. Tony Martignetti, Unlocking PotentialShow Notes Tony Martignetti and Will Bachman discuss the importance of maintaining energy and excitement as a solopreneur or independent professional. They talk about taking an assessment of the tools and different parts that you have been working on for your business. It is important to check in with yourself and ask what it is that you really want and what you are driving towards. It is necessary to determine which tools and activities are providing you with energy and which are draining you of energy. They also discuss how to tap into in...
2023-03-2735 min
The 92 Report52. Tai Wong, CFA, Commodity Sales and TradingWill Bachman talks to Tai Wong, a Harvard and Radcliffe class of 1992 alumni. Tai has been a trader for thirty years but believes that his best trade was asking his high school girlfriend to marry him. They married after she finished business school and they now have four children. Tai shares that his family has been together for 27 years and have had the opportunity to travel to many places together, but one of his favorite locations is Norway. A Career in Finance as a Trader Tai initially became interested in finance after a summer internship at...
2023-03-2043 min
The 92 Report51. Nicholas Eisenberger, Climate InnovatorShow Notes Will Bachman and Nicholas Eisenberger discuss his career path since graduating from Harvard. Nicholas explains that he was always interested in the environment, but there was no real outlet for his interest in school or business at the time. After graduating, he took a year off and a friend of his from Princeton called him from Budapest, Hungary and told him that action around environmental issues were happening there, so he made his way to Hungary where he and his friend started the Environmental Management Law Association in Eastern Europe. The company was a hybrid b...
2023-03-131h 00
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional505. Using a Purpose-built CRM SystemShow Notes In this episode, Will Bachman explains how independent consultants can set up and use a paid CRM system. While a spreadsheet is a great place to start when setting up a CRM system as it is free, and can help you understand which features of a paid system you would like to have, Will explains why, at one point, you might want to upgrade to a paid CRM system, and how CRM systems offer advantages over spreadsheets when tracking contacts, opportunities, and projects. Advantages of a CRM System over a Spreadsheet...
2023-03-1013 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional504. Using a Spreadsheet as a CRM SystemShow Notes In this episode of Unleashed, Will Bachman explains how independent professionals can use a spreadsheet as their CRM system. A spreadsheet can be an effective first step before investing in a paid CRM system, and for independent professionals, the most fundamental use of a CRM spreadsheet is to keep track of the people, organizations, and project opportunities, in addition to confirming new projects, but the first step in setting up a CRM system should be to create a spreadsheet of all your contacts, and another tab with all your past projects. Ultimately, using a...
2023-03-1017 min
The 92 Report50. Jamylle Carter, Professor of MathematicsWill Bachman is hosting a conversation with Jamylle Carter, a member of the Harvard and Radcliffe class of 1992. Jamylle graduated from Harvard with a degree in mathematics and went on to complete a PhD in math from UCLA. After UCLA, she also held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications in the University of Minnesota. Math Think Tanks and Researching Algorithms Will and Jamylle had a conversation about math think tanks, in which Jamylle described her experience. She had spent four years in a math think tank at a university, and t...
2023-03-061h 02
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional503. Niul Burton, Strategic Sourcing and ProcurementShow Notes Will Bachman and Niul Burton discuss procurement and strategic sourcing. Procurement is the function of acquiring goods or services as inputs to a company's operations. Strategic sourcing is a subset of procurement that focuses on the sourcing of goods and services in order to maximize value and efficiency. Niul explained that procurement involves identifying, negotiating, contracting, and working with suppliers on an ongoing basis. He also discussed the importance of understanding the needs of the company, the market, and the supplier in order to ensure that the best deal is being offered. Finally, Niul stressed...
2023-03-0651 min
The 92 Report49. Tim Whitmire, Founder at CXN AdvisoryShow Notes: Will Bachman and Tim Whitmire talk about Whitmire's journey since graduating from Harvard. Whitmire started as a freelance journalist, then got a job at the Associated Press and covered Harvard Men's Basketball. He moved to the Providence Bureau of the Associated Press and eventually to New York City. He was transferred to Lexington, Kentucky to work as a sports writer and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina after that. He worked at the Charlotte Observer and then returned to the Associated Press to work as the head of the Charlotte Bureau until 2006. Forming the N...
2023-02-2755 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional502. Jessica Magoch, The Musicology of SalesShow Notes Jessica Magoch is a jazz musician and sales expert who has put her two skills together to help others. She started her sales career when she was auditioning for college musical theater programs and realized that the best job for her would be one with flexibility - sales. She quickly excelled in the field and went on to work for a company that she helped build from zero to 100 million in revenue. After leaving that company, she started her own consulting and coaching business, where she helps women-led social enterprises learn how to sell. How...
2023-02-2742 min
The 92 Report48. Caribou Honig, Founder at SempervirensWill Bachman and Caribou Honig, a member of Harvard and Radcliffe's class of 1992, had a conversation about Caribou's journey since graduating. Caribou graduated from the University of Virginia with a JD MBA and got his first and only real job at Capital One. During his tenure, he met his soon to be wife and had a couple of kids. In 2006, Caribou left Capital One and took a year off to spend time with his family. He then co-founded a boutique venture capital firm and launched a couple of industry tech conferences. Hosting a Successful Conference ...
2023-02-2056 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional501. Nate Kievman, CEO of Linked Strategies Nate Kievman is the founder of Linked Strategies, a company that helps create better relationships between businesses and their ideal buyers. Link Strategies has been in business since 2010 and has evolved over the years into a full-service digital agency. Link Strategies Will Bachman is the host of Unleashed, and he and Nate discuss the services that Link Strategies offers. Link Strategies works with companies of all sizes, from one-person consulting shops to large enterprises like BlackRock and NASDAQ. The company typically works with companies that are looking to scale beyond their current referral- or network-based...
2023-02-2045 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent ProfessionalEp.500. Will Bachman, Unleashed: The Origin StoryShow Notes: Unleashed has been running for six years and has 335,000 downloads. In episode 500 of the podcast, host and creator, Will Bachman wants to share three things: the deep personal history behind the podcast, what listeners can expect going forward, and the impact it has had on him. An Interest in Journalism Will began his publishing adventures in junior high school when he started the Henry James Herald, a photocopied newspaper he sold or gave away in the lunchroom. He tried to start an alternate to the school newspaper in high school when he...
2023-02-1520 min
The 92 Report46. Ming Chen, Chief Cultural OfficerShow Notes: Will Bachman and Ming Chen had a conversation about Ming's journey since graduating from Harvard in 1992. Ming is currently Chief Cultural Officer EF Education First, an education company with 50,000 employees. Will asked Ming to tell him a bit about what she does at EF Education First, and Ming explained that she is the company's Chief Culture Officer. Ming Chen is a long-time employee of EF Education First, a company that provides language programs, educational travel, cultural exchange programs, and academic degree programs. She joined the company in 1998 after graduating from college with an E...
2023-02-0736 min
The 92 Report45. Michelle Holdt, Creative Compassionate ClassroomsShow Notes: The Restorative Power of Arts in Education Michelle Holdt is the founder of Arts Ed Matters, a nonprofit organization that works to promote access to arts classes in public schools. She is the founder of Creative Compassion, a new organization that addresses the crisis in education. She is also the Arts and Restorative Learning Coordinator in Santa Clara County. Holdt has been working since 2010 to address the issue of access to arts classes, teaching teachers how to integrate the arts into their academic curriculum. Holdt has also developed workshops on the Art of S...
2023-01-2454 min
The 92 Report44. Ben Balbale, Growth Investor & OperatorWill Bachman and Ben Balbale discuss Balbale's journey since graduating from Harvard. Balbale talks about how he has applied technology to the world in various different guises. He also talks about how he worked during the summer to help pay for college. He discusses his background in computer science and how it has helped them in his career. The Changing World of Computer Science They mention how the world of computer science has changed dramatically since they graduated college. They talk about how they started their career in management consulting and then went to business...
2023-01-1648 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional499. John Livesay, The Pitch WhispererShow Notes John Livesay is the pitch whisperer - he helps people calm down and deliver a winning pitch. He believes that the best way to win more sales is to tell a story that includes your own personal story, a company story, and then turning a case study into a case story. He was approached by Anthem insurance to be their sales keynote speaker and ended up staying for their improvisation session to help people with their pitches. Ink Magazine dubbed Jordan a pitch whisperer after she gave an example of how she helped...
2023-01-1634 min
The 92 Report1. Introduction - Will BachmanThis is the introduction to the 92-Report where I provide the origin of the The questions I'll be asking my guests in each episode. Visit 92report.com to register to email updates of each new epsiode.
2022-02-2704 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional458. Hiring Your First AssociateWill Bachman hosts a panel discussion on hiring your first associate. The panel includes top-tier consultants J. Andrew McKee, David Burnie of The Burnie Group, and Belinda Li. Key points include: 04:32: Deciding to hire your first employee 07:45: The pros and cons of having employees 11:20: The right time to add additional employees 17:17: Recruiting through LinkedIn Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at w...
2021-12-0256 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional405. Samuel Bachman on The Half-Blood ReportSamuel Bachman is a film major in the 10th grade at Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens. In this episode, he discusses the hugely popular podcast he co-created and produces, The Half-Blood Report, and the inspiration behind the podcast. Key points include: 07:49: Authors interviewed on the podcast 11:57: Social media lessons learned on making a podcast 16:47: Preparing for an author interview 26:53: Skills learned from producing a podcast 32:03: Best practices for producing a successful podcast You can check out the podcast through the...
2021-04-2741 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional351. Kian Beyzavi on Digital Health: What it is and why it mattersKian Beyzavi, a Venture Partner at Cota Capital, is a seasoned leader in the life sciences. After several years of consulting at McKinsey & Company, a couple of stints as a venture investor and a software entrepreneur, she worked in senior leadership positions at medical device and pharma companies for 10 years. Her recent consulting work is mainly focused on innovation in life sciences, leveraging digital health, patient engagement, services, devices, and diagnostics. Kian holds a PhD in electrical engineering/applied physics from Princeton University, and she has worked Asia, the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. ...
2021-02-1236 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional331. Susan Harte on how corporate site selection worksSusan Harte has deep experience as a site selection consultant, helping companies choose where to place their next headquarters, contact center, distribution facility, or factory. In this episode, Susan shares an insider's view of the site selection process. Connect with Susan on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-harte-esq-mcr-2002a04/ Unleashed is hosted by Will Bachman and produced by Umbrex. Learn more at www.umbrex.com
2020-09-2744 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional307. The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence Read by: Amada Soto Alejandra Bachman Sarah Sonnenfeld Naomi Soto Rosina Samadani Stacy Gilstrap Roopa Unnikrishnan Aparna Mukherjee Veronica Bachman Alejandra Campos Nancy Bachman Leah Burnett Esther Kim Surbhee Grover Julie Gupta Julie Mallozzi Maya Dijkstra Katherine Mechner Marissa Cherian Nayla Bahri Soyini Coke Lilly Minkove Evie Hantzopoulos Susie Chang DeVelde Sonia Dijkstra Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska Rebecca Tushnet Susmita Pati Tere Riera-Carrion B...
2020-07-0409 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional277. William H. Bachman, PhD - a nuclear engineer turned handymanWilliam H. Bachman, PhD, spent 28 years designing nuclear fuel for civilian reactors. After taking early retirement in 1997, he set himself up as an independent professional - a handyman. In today's episode, my dad tells the story of his second career. Check out his one YouTube video, mentioned in this episode, on how to replace a kitchen spray nozzle (308,000 views and counting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fuFoB_1KVk
2020-05-0440 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional226. Michael Sorrentino provides media trainingIn this video edition of Unleashed, Michael Sorrentino provides Will Bachman with an introduction to media training. No one is a natural in front of a videocamera, because you need to speak in an unnatural way and hold yourself in an unnatural position if you want to look normal. If you have invested time and effort to build up your visibility and expect to be appearing on camera, it is a worthwhile investment to obtain media training from a professional so that in your few minutes on screen you make a good impression. (Will Bachman wi...
2020-01-2600 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional217. Should consultants sign up as a prospective expert with expert networks?In Episode 213, Will Bachman discussed how to source experts for interviews - either using an expert network or by doing the work yourself. Listener Gary C. asked if consultants should sign up with expert networks as the one to be interviewed. This episode answers his question, in three parts: Will your expertise be useful to the people who are asking the questions Are you likely to get selected for an interview What are the costs and benefits of joining as an expert – so is it worth your time To connect with Will Bachman on...
2019-11-1816 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional216. David Minifie explains the role of the chief experience officerDavid Minifie is the Chief Experience Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Centene Corporation. Centene is a Fortune 500 company that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored healthcare programs. In this episode, David explains to me the role and responsibilities of a Chief Experience Officer, which includes and expands the responsibilities he previously held as the Chief Marketing Officer. You can learn more about Centene on their website, centene.com And you can see more of David’s background on his LinkedIn profile – a link is in the...
2019-11-1840 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional213. How to source experts for interviewsIn this episode, Will Bachman explains how to source experts to interview for a consulting project. The episode covers: 1) How to work with expert networks such as AlphaSights, GLG, and Third Bridge and 2) How to source experts on your own using LinkedIn and other channels We cover: - How to identify the populations to be sourced - How to work with a researcher to generate a list of targets - How much to pay experts - Whether to record the call
2019-11-1225 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional212. Ushma Pandya helps clients get to zero wasteUmbrex member Ushma Pandya is the Co-Founder and Partner at Think Zero Inc, an environmental consulting firm supporting businesses' waste reduction and diversion goals. In this episode, Ushma walks me through the stages of a typical waste reduction project, and shares some of the surprising things she has found in the recycling bin. You can learn more about her firm at: https://thinkzerollc.com/ To receive the weekly Unleashed email that includes a summary of each episode, transcripts, and bonus features, send Will Bachman an email at unleashed@umbrex.com
2019-11-1124 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional211. LinkedIn Best Practices for Independent ConsultantsIn this episode Will Bachman covers: Which type of LinkedIn Premium subscription should you get Tips on posting LinkedIn articles and posts Recommendations on each element of your LinkedIn profile, including: Photo Name Headline Contact info Summary section Summary section attachments Experience Experience section attachments Education Skills Interests Recommendations received and given For more on LinkedIn, check out the LinkedInformed podcast with Mark Williams. Episode 242, covering effective LinkedIn posts, is a great place to start: https://linkedinformed.com/episode242/ Will has summarized all these tips in a che...
2019-11-0535 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional210. Raghav Nandagopal on conducting acquisitions at scaleMcKinsey alum Raghav Nandagopal is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Mergers and Acquisitions at Ascensus Incorporated. In today’s episode, Raghav explains how he build an M&A group to complete acquisitions at scale at Ascensus. Ascensus is the largest independent retirement and college savings services provider in the U.S. with over $163 billion in assets under management, you can find out more about them at ascensus.com You can find out more about Raghav’s background on his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raghavnandagopal/ If you’d...
2019-11-0432 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional209. Tom Schwab on using podcast guest appearances to raise your visibilityTom Schwab runs Interview Valet, a firm that helps its clients get booked on targeted podcasts where they can speak directly to their ideal customers. In this episode, Tom shares his perspective on why being a guest on a podcast is a great way to raise your visibility How to prepare for an interview How to promote the interview How to work with a podcast interview booking firm like his And How to get invited on shows if you want to do it yourself You can learn...
2019-10-2949 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional208. Jake Jorgovan turns consultants into thought leadersJake Jorgovan turns consultants into thought leaders through content marketing. Jake’s firm, Content Allies, works with consultants who have deep industry or functional knowledge, but who simply don’t have the time to sit down and get that knowledge onto paper. A writer from his team interviews the client to get a brain dump on a particular topic, and then they write the blog post or the white paper for the client. Let’s say you’ve got a lot of industry knowledge and experience, but you You can learn more abou...
2019-10-2939 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional207. Tanya Kleindienst explains what a Head of Corporate Culture doesOur guest today is Tanya Kleindienst, a culture and leadership coach based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to starting her independent consulting practice, Tanya was the Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Culture at Fifth Third Bank. In this episode, Tanya describes the roles and responsibilities of a head of corporate culture. You can connect with Tanya via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-kleindienst-6274541b/ If you'd like to receive Unleashed bonus materials in our weekly email, shoot Will Bachman a note at unleashed@umbrex.com
2019-10-2146 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional206. Michael Fertman explains the fundamentals of Search Engine OptimizationOur guest today is Michael Fertman, a marketing consultant who runs The B2B Marketing Group based in New York City. In today’s episode, Michael explains the fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). If you are looking to have your website ranked higher in search engine results, and SEO is a bit of a black box to you, then this episode could be a good place to start. You can learn more about Michael’s work on his website, theb2bmg.com and you can find Michael on LinkedIn here: http...
2019-10-1433 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional205. Annie Scranton explains how public relations worksOur guest today is Annie Scranton, the Founder of Pace Public Relations,a full-service media relations and communications agency based in New York City. If you want to raise your visibility by getting interviewed on TV or by print journalists, this is the episode for you, since Annie explains to me the basics of how public relations work. You can find out more about Pace Public Relations on their website, pacepublicrelations.com Annie’s LinkedIn URL is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniescranton/ and you can follow Annie on Tw...
2019-10-0842 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional204. Clark Beecher: How consultants can make successful career transitionsOur guest today is Clark Beecher, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Beecher Reagan, the largest U.S. executive search firm that exclusively focuses on current and former consulting talent. In this episode Clark provides tips on how to best work with executive recruiters – both when you are looking for a new role and when you aren’t. He also provides his perspective on how recruiters and employers view a stint as an independent consultant. So if you are an independent consultant considering a return to the corporate world, his tips on how to position your...
2019-09-2343 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional203. The power of sending recap emailsA five-minute investment in sending a recap email can significantly improve the effectiveness of meetings and the overall outcomes on a project. In this episode, we discuss two flavors: #1: The post-meeting recap email #2: The weekly recap email If you are interested in hiring an independent consultant for one of your project needs, email Will Bachman at unleashed@umbrex.com
2019-09-1704 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional202. Avish Bhama on Sonia, an artificial intelligence tool that makes meetings more productiveOur guest today is Avish Bhama, the CEO of Sonia, where the mission is to build Artificial Intelligence that interprets human intent, and use it to democratize access to information-flow at work. Sonia builds tools that empower you to focus on the interesting and creative nature of your work rather than the repetitive and mundane parts. When you sign up for a plan with Sonia, you get an AI tool that can dial into your phone calls, take notes, identify the action items that are agreed to in the meeting, and then send an email afterward.
2019-09-1628 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional200. Nir Eyal on how to become IndistractableOur guest today Nir Eyal, author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, which has been a huge bestseller and is considered a must-read book in Silicon Valley. Nir’s latest book is Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, which is being released on September 10. I’ve read a review copy, begun putting his recommendations into effect, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever been distracted. In today’s episode, Nir shares highlights from the book, and gives a summary of his four-part approach to becoming indistractable. ...
2019-09-0941 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional199. Forty-eight tips on how to thrive for recent graduatesThe New York Phi Beta Kappa Association asked me to share some tips with recent graduates in the New York City metro area as a panelist at an event this evening. I came up with a list of 48 tips and figured I'd share them here first. Some tips are probably obvious; some non-obvious tips may also be not helpful. I hope the set of non-obvious + useful tips is non-zero. To get the weekly Unleashed email that includes a summary of recent episodes and bonus material, email Will Bachman at unleashed@umbrex...
2019-09-0321 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional198. Rima Nair: How the world of customer insights is evolvingOur guest today is Rima Nair, a McKinsey alum who is a Principal at IRI, a leading provider of big data, predictive analytics and forward-looking insights that help CPG, retail and media grow. In this episode, Rima explains why the largest consumer packaged goods companies subscribe to IRI’s information sources, and how the world of customer insights is evolving. You can learn more about IRI at https://www.iriworldwide.com/en-US/ And if you want to reach out to Rima, Here LinkedIn profile is: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rima-nair-bb57295/...
2019-09-0238 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional197. Josh Spodek on cultivating initiativeOur guest today is Josh Spodek, who last joined us on Episode 25 of this show. I was very pleased that Josh agreed to return to discuss his new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work). In today’s episode, Josh shares some of the exercises from this new primer on how everyone can make change happen in the world. Josh is a busy professional: In addition to writing books, he writes a daily blog He is also the host of a podcast, Leadership an...
2019-08-2645 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional196. Ilana Grossman on the role of the Chief Marketing OfficerUmbrex member and BCG alum Ilana Grossman, a marketing consultant based in New York City. Her firm is called B2Both, since she works with both B2B and B2C clients. Ilana has been the Chief Marketing Officer at several rapidly growing companies, and we discuss The role of the Chief Marketing Officer, and how it is changing Key performance indicators in the world of marketing And what it is like being an independent consultant focused on marketing You can learn more about Ilana’s firm at b2both.com If you'd li...
2019-08-2632 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional195. Ray Carbonell on who really writes LinkedIn posts for busy executivesOur guest today is Ray Carbonell, the CEO at Qnary, a company that builds out and grows the reputation and thought leadership of professionals. Qnary writes LinkedIn posts and tweets for busy professionals, typically senior executives, and then writes the replies to comments on those posts. In this episode, Ray shares how his firm works with their clients to identify the content pillars that the posts will focus on, what makes a compelling post, and best practices in engaging with those who comment on the post. Ray also shares the best times to...
2019-08-2042 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional194. Spish Rurak on how to successfully transition out of a top-tier consulting firmOur guest today is Zbigniew "Spish" Rurak, who has served as a career transition coach to several thousand management consultants as they left top-tier global firms. In this episode, Spish shares observations on how to best prepare to transition out of a big firm and how to manage a successful job search. If you’d like to connect with Spish, find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zbigniew-spish-rurak-4131674/ If you are interested in joining a global community of top-tier independent management consultants, email Will Bachman at unleashed@umbrex.co...
2019-08-121h 06
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional193. Lee Frederiksen on how professional services firms can reach their target marketOur guest today is Lee Frederiksen, Managing Partner at Hinge, a branding and marketing firm specializing in professional services. We discuss Researching your target client Developing a go-to-market strategy Benchmarking your marketing against that of high-growth firms How to differentiate your practice Visit the website of Hinge Marketing to learn more – at https://hingemarketing.com/ Click on Hinge University tab to see the firm’s online course offerings – several of which you can sample for free, and on the Blog tab you may want to sign up to receive their thought leadership posts right t...
2019-08-0546 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional192. Adam Braff on capturing value from data and analyticsOur guest today is Adam Braff, a former McKinsey Partner who has held senior executive roles responsible for data and analytics, and is today an independent advisor to private equity firms, corporate senior leaders, and boards in multiple industries on how to extract more business value from their investments in data and analytics. In this episode Adam shares several case studies of how he has helped clients get better results from their data, and he explains what roast chicken has to do with business intelligence. I enjoy Adam’s blog posts, and you can sign up...
2019-07-2931 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional191. Jason Bay on using customized video messages for business developmentOur guest today is Jason Bay, the founder of Blissful Prospecting, a firm that helps B2B sales reps, SMBs, and nonprofits create sustainable revenue growth. In our discussion, Jason explains to me the REPLY method that his firm created to guide the writing of cold emails to prospects. REPLY stands for Results, Empathy, Personalization, Laser-focus, and You. The way I connected with Jason is that he used his own methodology on me. Jason researched me and this podcast, and then sent me a personalized video message of himself speaking to...
2019-07-2949 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional190. David Fields on what makes for a successful consulting partnershipOur guest today is David A. Fields, Umbrex member and the author of The Irresistible Consultant's Guide to Winning Clients: 6 Steps to Unlimited Clients & Financial Freedom. David advises many boutique consulting firms, and over the years he has seen partnerships thrive and partnerships fall apart. On today’s episode, David shares some observations on how to make a partnership successful. We also discuss the idea of adding an advisory board to your firm, and we spend a few minutes on how to select the right gift for a client. Got questions about how to...
2019-07-2333 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional189. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, a thought leader in project managementAntonio Nieto-Rodriguez is a thought leader in the area of project management. Antonio is the author of two books: The Focused Organization: How Concentrating on a Few Key Initiatives Can Dramatically Improve Strategy Execution And The Project Revolution: How to Succeed in a Project Driven World He has been awarded the title of Thinker of the Month by Thinkers50, and has presented on the topic of project management at more than 120 conferences around the world. To learn more about his work, visit https://antonionietorodriguez.com...
2019-07-2238 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional188. Christina Ungaro on the commercial real estate services industryOur guest today is Christina Ungaro, the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at JLL. In case you aren’t in the real estate world: JLL is the second-largest commercial real estate services firm in the world, ranked 189th on the Fortune 500, with revenue of $16 billion in 2018. Christina was hired by JLL to build the corporate development group, and she has completed 32 acquisitions (mostly professional services firms) since she joined JLL. In this episode, Christina gives me a quick primer on the commercial real estate services industry, discusses lessons learned in building her te...
2019-07-1630 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional187. Josh Miramant on applying machine learningOur guest today is Josh Miramant, the Founder of CEO of Blue Orange Digital, a full-stack data science agency using machine learning to simplify business decisions. In our discussion, Josh provides several case studies of how his firm is helping clients improve decisions through better predictions, including one project for a hedge fund that analyzes a wide range of data on job applicants to help the fund hire analysts who are likely to perform better. I also learn a new term: data lake Blue Orange regularly partners with consultants, and if you have...
2019-07-081h 07
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional186. Stephen Redwood on org design and triathlonsOur guest today is Stephen Redwood, who has been a Partner in the Organization practices at PricewaterhouseCoopers, McKinsey & Co., Oliver Wyman, and Deloitte. He is now running his own firm, Redwood Advisory Partners, where he helps clients develop a high performing organization and an exceptional employee experience. In today’s discussion, Stephen explains what an organizational design project is all about, and he also discusses his other business, Tri Endeavors, where he coaches elite triathletes. To learn more about Stephen’s triathalon coaching practice, visit http://triendeavors.com/ And To l...
2019-07-0145 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional185. Seiya Vogt, VP of Growth at Boxed, on the latest marketing techniquesOur guest today is Seiya Vogt, the VP of Growth at Boxed – where he is responsible for Marketing and B2B Sales. Boxed calls itself “the easiest way to stock up and save for your household essentials." In today's discussion, Seiya provides a behind the scenes view of the tools available to the modern marketer, and along the way he explains why direct mail – that’s right – good old hard-copy mail – is making a comeback. After this episode you may be inspired to stock up on a bulk order of household cleaners or snacks or he...
2019-06-2439 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional184. Tim Hughes: Social selling is not about sellingOur guest today is Tim Hughes, who has written the book on social selling; he is the author of Social Selling: Techniques to influence buyers and customers, as well as Smarketing: How to achieve competitive advantage through blended sales and marketing. As you’ll hear from Tim, social selling is not actually about selling, or at least not about trying to sell – it is about building relationships. Tim’s LinkedIn headline is: Should have played Quidditch for England, and in today’s discussion he explains why he leads with that. Based on Tim’s advice...
2019-06-1740 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional183. Brian Hecht on joining an Internet startup in 1994Our guest today is Brian Hecht, who freaked out his family in 1994, just two years after graduating from Harvard College, by leaving a perfectly fine job to join an Internet company – before that was a thing. Brian went on to have a successful career as an Internet entrepreneur, and today he is a Venture Partner at a NYC startup accelerator called Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator. Check them out at eranyc.com And as a hobby, he, along with his cousin Rachel Dodes, hosts the very popular and hilarious podcast This Week in Nope, in which they di...
2019-06-1048 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional182. David A Fields invites you to his Solo Practice AcceleratorOur guest today is David A. Fields, the author of The Irresistible Consultant's Guide to Winning Clients: 6 Steps to Unlimited Clients & Financial Freedom. David is leading an upcoming professional development program for independent consultants that I thought could be valuable for many of the listeners of this show, so I asked David if he’d share an overview of the Solo Practice Accelerator. The next one is August 18-19, 2019 in San Francisco, CA. Details: https://members.davidafields.com/solo-practice-accelerator If after listening to this episode you are interested in attending but those...
2019-06-0335 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional181. Hi Leva shares a sales leader's perspectiveOur guest today is Hi Leva, the SVP of Sales at Oasis Financial. In today's discussion, Hi shares key lessons learned from his career as a sales leader. We discuss recruiting a sales team, compensation, the importance of follow-up, CRM systems, how to get the most out of attending a convention, and other sales topics. You can learn about Hi’s company at oasisfinancial.com And you can learn more about Hi’s background on his LinkedIn profile, and a link is in the show notes https://www.linkedin.com...
2019-06-0336 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional180. Scott Friesen explains data analytics in the trucking industryOur guest today is Scott Friesen, the SVP of Strategic Analytics at Echo Global Logistics, a company which serves as a broker that connects companies who want to ship something by truck to the trucking company that will give the best rate, a non-trivial exercise considering that there are 40,000 trucking companies in the United States. In our discussion, Scott gives me an overview of the two major categories of trucking: less-than-truckload and full truck load. We then explore some of the ways that analytics is changing the trucking industry, and the entry of new players including, you g...
2019-06-0340 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional179. Liston Witherill is a sales coach to consultantsOur guest today is Liston Witherill, a sales coach and trainer who helps non-sales people sell more client services by staying curious and providing more help to their clients. Liston has a set of great resources available to download on his website, just go to liston.io and click on the Resources tab, where you’ll find sales email templates, a CRM spreadsheet, a sales call checklist, a list of 32 ideas for lead generation, and more. If you are looking to hire an independent consultant, or if you would like to join the global community of...
2019-06-0247 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional145. Amy Gross helps athletes get in the zoneOur guest today is Amy Gross, a performance psychology consultant who runs a coaching practice called Pillars4Performance. Many of her clients are elite athletes, and that’s where we focus our discussion. In this episode we cover how to focus on the controllables (instead of fixating on things outside your control) how to using visioning exercises effectively how to identify and overcome self-defeating narratives how to identify your zone – and how to get into it To learn more about Amy’s work, visit pillars4performance.com To...
2019-02-2630 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional49. Will Bachman on Getting Some Things DoneOn the show today Julia Bunte-Mein is back. Julia, a brilliant and accomplished sophomore at Harvard College, spent a day with me on a Winternship. On our last episode, Julia interviewed me about the advice I’d give to my college-age self, and related topics. On today’s episode, I share the tips that I’ve learned on Getting (Some) Things Done. I loved David Allen’s classic book titled Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. His system was a bit too complex for me, and I’ll be sharing what I do in practice to get som...
2018-01-3025 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional48. Will Bachman interviewed by Julia Bunte-Mein on advice for his college-age selfOn the show today our guest is Julia Bunte-Mein, a sophomore at Harvard College, who spent one day with me over her winter break on a Winternship. I’m pretty sure that I learned more from Julia than she did from me over the course of the day. One of the things I learned was that if I were applying to Harvard today, I would have had a lot less chance of getting in, as the bar has been raised over the past couple decades. Julia added real value on Day One. Little did I kno...
2018-01-2456 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional42. Will Bachman on DocuSign Expensify ScannerPro and Rev.comIn this in-between-isode, Will Bachman shares four tools useful for any independent professional: 1) DocuSign - to avoid the need to print/sign/scan/email 2) Expensify - to keep track of your expenses. 3) ScannerPro - to create multipage PDFs with your phone 4) Rev.com - quick and affordable transcripts
2017-11-2708 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional35. Sophia Dai interviews Will Bachman on the decision to go independentOn today’s episode, the tables are turned, and our guest, Sophia Dai, interviews Will Bachman. Sophia received her MBA from Kellogg and then spent the past two years at Boston Consulting Group. Now a Senior Associate, she’s decided to leave BCG, and independent consulting is one path that she is considering. Two or three or four times a week Will Bachman has a conversation with a top tier management consultant considering this option. This episode captures one such discussion. In today’s episode , Will does his best to answer her que...
2017-10-0943 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional15. Will Bachman on 27 steps to set up your firmIn this in-between-isode, Will Bachman offers suggestions on 27 action items to consider as you set up your firm.
2017-06-0523 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional14. Will Bachman on establishing the strategy for your practiceIn this in-between-isode, Will Bachman offers a perspective on the questions you should answer to create a strategy for your practice, namely: What is your definition of success? Or in other words, What is winning? Where do you play? How do you win on the battlefields where you have chosen to play?
2017-06-0514 min
Unleashed - How to Thrive as an Independent Professional10. Will Bachman on Why and How to Start a PodcastFour reasons why an independent professional might want to start a podcast, and 17 tips on how to get started.
2017-05-1620 min